Reds rally, watch bullpen implode again in 6-4 loss to Padres

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Wade Miley did not throw a no-hitter tonight, but he sure as hell made us kick around the idea of it again. The Cincinnati Reds lefty used his cutter in tremendous fashion for most of the evening, and while he was eventually tagged twice, that does nothing to diminish the fact that he once again gave the Reds a brilliant start, one that’s becoming more the norm than exception so far this year.

His final line: 7+ IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K on 102 pitches. He’s putting together the kind of season that should make picking up his 2022 option a no-brainer, even for a penniless club like this.

Meanwhile...

Jonathan India socked the pants off a Mark Melancon meatball in the Top of the 9th to give the Reds a 4-2 lead, and his hair was perfect. A-oooooooh...for a time.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Joey Votto, who was on-base thrice (via a pair of singles and walk); Tucker Barnhart, who was on-base thrice (via a single, double, and walk); Art Warren, who bailed out Miley’s stranded runners and fired a nice scoreless IP; and Tyler Stephenson, who came into the lineup late with a huge, game-tying single.

Key Plays

• Wade Miley took a no-hitter into whichever inning it was where Fernando Tatis, Jr. hit a ball over the CF wall and to the moon, at which point in time Fernando Tatis, Jr. hit a ball over the CF wall and to the moon to break up the no-hitter and the shutout. Reds trailed, 1-0.
• Manny Machado refused to be outdone by his superstar teammate, and proceeded to hit a ball over the LF wall and to the moon off Miley in the Bottom of the 7th to make it a 2-0 game.
• The Reds turned the tide in the Top of the 9th, however. Votto singled off Mark Melancon and motored to 3B on a double into the LF corner by Tucker, and Joey later scored on a productive 1-out groundout by Kyle Farmer. Ty Steves then socked a single into CF to plate Barnhart and tie the game, and India immediately followed with a 2-run tater into the LF seats. That put the Reds ahead, 4-2...
• ...said lead evaporated quickly, however, because the Cincinnati bullpen remains a complete disaster. Ryan Hendrix was tasked with the save in the Bottom of the 9th because the Reds bullpen has been driving for two weeks with ‘0 miles until empty’ flashing on their dashboard, and he surrendered a 2-run tater to Eric Hosmer that tied the game, 4-4. Later, Amir Garrett tried to salvage things only to give up the walk-off dinger to Vic Caratini, one that sunk the Reds to a 6-4 loss.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Friday evening’s game between these two clubs will feature a pair of talented young hurlers. Chris Paddack will toe the rubber for the Friars, while Tony Santillan will get another trip to the bump for the Reds. First pitch is set for 10:10 PM ET, so adjust your internal clocks accordingly and get a cooler full of the kind of beer that keeps you up at night.
• It’s nice to lose in nationally-noticed, heartbreaking fashion again instead of in complete obscurity again, isn’t it?
• Tunes.